Marlins welcome back Brad Penny to start Saturday

Brad Penny spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with the Marlins.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Guess who’s back?

As expected, the Miami Marlins selected the contract of right-hander Brad Penny following Friday’s 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Penny, who last pitched in the majors with the San Francisco Giants in 2012, will start Saturday’s game at Great American Ball Park.

Miami signed the 36-year-old to a minor-league deal in mid-June. He was 2-4 with a 3.05 ERA in seven starts between Single-A Jupiter and Triple-A New Orleans as he worked to build up his strength.

Over 13 big-league seasons, Penny is 119-100 with a 4.26 ERA. His first five seasons from 2000-04 were with the Marlins where he went 48-42 with a 4.04 ERA. He won two games in the 2003 World Series.

In 2012, Penny lasted just one start in Japan, giving up six runs (four earned) on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings before being cut. He was granted a release after reportedly sustaining a shoulder injury and being sidelined a month.

Earlier in the day, left-handed reliever Dan Jennings was placed on the seven-day concussion list, and utility player Kiké Hernandez and left-hander Brian Flynn were optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.

In corresponding transactions, the Marlins recalled utility player Ed Lucas, right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and left-hander Edgar Olmos — who was later sent back down with Penny’s return.

Jennings was struck in the head by a liner off the bat of Jordy Mercer during the seventh inning of Thursday’s 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. At a local hospital, CT scans came back negative and showed he had a concussion. Jennings stayed overnight for observation.

The 27-year-old is 0-1 with a 1.03 ERA in 38 appearances this season. He was recalled for his latest big-league stint Aug. 1 when right-hander Henderson Alvarez went on the DL with right shoulder inflammation.

"Headed home to rest up with my family," Jennings tweeted Friday afternoon. "Thanks again everyone for the kind words."

Flynn started Thursday’s game in place of Jarred Cosart, who was scratched with a strained oblique. He surrendered five runs on eight hits in four-plus innings for the loss. He was initially called up when the club designated righty Jacob Turner for assignment Tuesday.

Hernandez, acquired in the trade-deadline deal with the Houston Astros, was hitless in seven at-bats with the Marlins. He got just one start since becoming part of the Marlins organization.

At 22, Miami likely wants him to play every day in the minors rather than sparingly in the big leagues. Hernandez made his big-league debut last month in Houston.

Lucas was sent down July 31 to make room on the 25-man roster for Hernandez. In 51 games with the Marlins, he has hit .239 with three doubles, a homer and seven RBI.

This marks DeSclafani’s fourth stint with the club during his rookie season. In his previous call-up following the All-Star break, he did not pitch in a game when the Marlins needed an extra arm in a taxed bullpen. The 24-year-old is 1-2 with a 7.40 ERA in five big-league starts.

Olmos returned to the big leagues for the first time since appearing in five games as a rookie last year but didn’t pitch Friday.